Nigeria's Badminton sensation, Opeyori targets podium finish at Paris 2024

Posted : 02 May 2023

Nigeria's badminton sensation and the current number 1 ranked player in Africa, Anuoluwapo Opeyori, has said that he would target a podium finish at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

Basking in the euphoria of winning the men’s singles at the All African Badminton Championships, Opeyori says he now sets his eyes on a podium finish at the next 2024 Olympics in Paris.

Africa’s number one badminton player, Opeyori, told Africa Sport Network that, having achieved much playing in Africa, he wanted more with a medal at the Olympics.

Opeyori is now a three-time winner of the All African Badminton Championships 2019, 2022, and 2023. He just recently retained his crown in South Africa when he defeated Mauritius Julien Paul 18-21, 21-13, 21-18.

He was also a gold medalist at the National Sports Festival, an event he has dominated for the past five years. Opeyori, on his recent glory at the All African Badminton
Championships, said that the win was significant to his qualifications for the 2024 Olympics in Paris.

"The win means a lot to me; I need to retain my form and be at my best."

"Next year, 2024, is the Olympic year, and I need points to qualify for the event."

"For now, I have garnered some points, but I need more points, like 20,000, to enable me to qualify for the Olympics, which will be great for me."

"I still need some more tournaments, which I hope to get because I lack support to attend tournaments. The problem with us is that we lack sponsors.

“Winning a medal, possibly a gold medal, is the next level for me now, but I need to be at my best to achieve that feat,” he said. Opeyori revealed that he would still continue to work with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), an organization that has supported him thus far.

“I am grateful to FRSC for the opportunity; they have been supportive all through my career. The organization has given me the opportunity to pursue my career."

"I don’t see myself quitting FRSC for now because sports for me are yet to be lucrative, and since I don’t have any pressure from FRSC, I will still be with them. Whenever I have any tournament to attend, what I do is just approach the authority, and they have been graciously giving me the right support and permission."

"For me, I want to take badminton to another level in Nigeria with the right support and encouragement." he said.

Nigeria's Badminton sensation, Opeyori targets podium finish at Paris 2024

ADD A COMMENT :

Hot Topics